Flash Back: The Filling Between the Sandwich

Today we are taking a trip down memory lane. This is the third in the series I’m calling Flash Back. The original post was shared way back in May of 2012. I hope you will find it as informative as I do.

Choosing Your Batting

A quilt has three main components, the beautifully designed quilt top, the backing and of course the filling between the sandwich. Choosing the proper batting is very important. Before thumbing through catalogs or cruising through your local retailer take time to ask yourself these questions:

How will my quilt be used? Will it be a wall hanging or bed quilt. If I am using it as a bed quilt, how warm would I like it to be.

Do I want to do hand or machine quilting?

How much quilting do I want to do?

What is my budget?

Do I care about quality?

Did I use light or dark fabrics?

Do I have allergies?

How big is my quilt?

This sounds like a lot of questions but they’re all very important. Your answers to those questions will help you make your choice.

Let’s Begin the Journey

Obviously not all battings are alike. There are many terms that are used when describing batting. There’s carded or combed, bonded, needle punched; natural or synthetic fibers; low loft, medium loft, high loft or extra loft. Lets explore some of this terminology

Carded or Combed Batting

Carded or combed fibers have no bonding agent therefore are more prone to shifting and bearding. As a result the quilt lines on this batting should be between 1/4″ and 1/2″ apart.

Bonded Batting

There are two types of bonded batting, resin and thermal. The processes are very different but the reasons are similar. Bonding is done to help prevent bunching, eliminate thick and thin areas as well as bearding and provide extra strength to the fibers. Bonded batting has a higher loft than needle punched because the fibers of the needle punched batting are compressed.

Resin bonding is a thin coating of resin or glaze applied to both the top and bottom layers. This type of batting is great for comforters and quilts that have less quilting. Thermal bonding is typically done only on polyester batting. Thermal bonded batting is softer than resin bonded batting, but not as durable and may tend to be more susceptible to bearding.

Needle Punched

Needle punched batting is just what it sounds like. The fibers are punched with thousands of needles. The punching tangles the fibers together, thereby compressing them. The tangling process adds durability. Some needle punched battings also have a scrim. A scrim is a netting type material that is added while the batting is needle punched. The scrim adds even greater strength. Lightweight scrims are easily hand quilted. Heavyweight scrims are more suited to machine quilting. A heavyweight scrim makes the batting stiffer but less .

Loft (Weight or Thickness):

Low Loft

1/8-3/8″

Easy to work with

Great for lightweight quilts, wall hangings, placemats, clothing

Suitable for hand or machine quilting

Medium Loft

Adds texture

Thicker loft means more difficult to machine quilt

Very difficult to hand quilt

Use in warmer quilts and wall hangings

High Loft/Extra High Loft

High = 1-2″ thick

Extra High = 2-3″

Great for tied quilts

Difficult to hand and machine quilt

Not suitable for placemats

Fibers

Now that we’ve explored the process of bonding lets discuss the types of fibers. Battings can be made from natural fibers, synthetic or a blend of both. Fibers that fall within the natural category are: alpaca, bamboo, natural cotton, organic cotton, cotton flannel, flame retardant batting, a flax and linen blend, silk, soy blend or wool. Synthetic fibers are made from: polyester, plastic, a cotton/polyester blend and a cotton/polyester blend with stabilizer. Lets look at each one a little closer.

Natural Fibers:

Alpaca

Many colors

High quality, expensive

Lightweight, warm

Fibers are smooth, not itchy like wool

Often blended with wool or cotton

Needle punched variety easier to quilt

Care: Can be machine or hand washed. Do so with care. Agitation can result in felting. Air dry.

If using embroidery machine to quilt no need to back batting with stabilizer

Stabilizer adds strength

Care: machine wash and dry

Shrinkage: none

Distance between quilting lines: n/a

Fusible Batting

No need to baste

100% polyester with fusible web

Can also be a natural blend of cotton and bamboo rayon

May be fusible on only one side, if so, fuse on backing of quilt

Limited sizes

Fusible web holds layers together while quilting which eliminates shifting

Fusible web is temporary. Dissolves when washed.

Softens when washed

Great for small machine quilted projects

Also suitable for hand quilting

Care: machine wash or rinse in cool water after quilting, air dry or machine dry low

Shrinkage: 2-3%

Distance between quilting lines: 2-6″

Insulating Batting

100% polyester

Needle punched with reflective mylar

Low loft

45″ wide

Great for craft projects

Care: machine wash, machine dry low

Shrinkage: none

Distance between quilting lines: up to 10″

Conclusion

What you have just read barely scratches the surface of available information. I didn’t even attempt to compare the various manufacturers and brand names. Doing so would have sent my head spinning. If you would like further details you can find numerous websites with even more data. Feel free to go on a search and discovery mission of your own. I hope that you have found this information helpful.